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Karla Fettich, PhD
I am enthusiastic about using my skills, expertise and time to make a lasting positive impact in the community. Professionally, my work seeks to improve healthcare for aging individuals, and has earned an Excellence in Technology Award for Dignity in Long-Term Care. Personally, I coordinate efforts to increase diversity in the Philadelphia data science community, reduce the number of homeless animals in the city and facilitate care and recovery for those experiencing opioid addiction.
Education
I speak several languages including German (native), Romanian (native), French (basic) and Spanish (basic).
PhD, Psychology Neuroscience
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA
2016 - 2011
- Dissertation: Coordinated neuromorphology in the development of social information processing
- Advanced Training Institute on Exploratory Data Mining in Behavioral Research
BA, Psychology
Jacobs University Bremen
Bremen, Germany
2005 - 2002
Professional Experience
Senior Data Scientist
AmeriHealth Caritas
Newtown Square, PA
present - 2021
- Developed machine learning models in R for risk stratification of CHC members, including both modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors
- Conducted exploratory data mining analyses, created insights decks and presentations to internal clients, and led a collaborative analytics project
- Improved analytics efficiency by reducing meeting overhead, automating workflows, developing solutions to move away from legacy systems, and coordinating with other teams to facilitate access to needed tools
- Led knowledge-sharing sessions on modern tools in data science for colleagues across multiple teams
Head of Analytics & Algorithm Development
Orchestrall, Inc.
Conshohocken, PA
2021 - 2015
- Lead healthcare data science consulting projects to derive insights from clinical data and multidisciplinary teams
- Develop and test predictive models for operational implementation
- Select optimal tools for statistical modeling, including decision trees, logistic regression, conditional inference forests, multiple imputation
- Develop algorithms to power intelligent healthcare applications for the senior care market, including outcome prediction, anomaly detection, and logistics optimization
- Conduct end-to-end analyses including study design, data identification/collection, ETL, analysis, and communication of findings
- Implement analytical models into production through collaborations with the software development team
Leadership
I enjoy learning via hands-on projects that have a real and positive impact, and I seek to create opportunities to make this type of learning available to the wider community.
Project Leader
Code for Philly
present - 2019
- Lead a team to create a 360-degree view of PAWS’ constituents to help development and operations
- Work closely with project management team, peer data scientists, engineers, developers and Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society representatives to build a data lake
- Oversee team efforts in data processing, cleansing, and verifying data integrity
Organizer
Philadelphia, PA
present - 2018
- Work to increase gender diversity in the data science community in Philadelphia
- Create learning, networking and leadership opportunities for over 1000 members via monthly meetups focused on R and collaborations with other data groups in the city
Lead Datathon Organizer
Collaborate with non-profit organizations to articulate business questions, translate them into viable analytics projects for volunteer data scientists; coordinate the volunteer effort, and help data scientists translate their findings into into clear and actionable business insights
Philadelphia, PA
present - 2018
- Philadelphia Animal Welfare Society: Animal Shelter Volunteer Engagement (2018) and Animal Adoptions (2019)
- Health Federation of Philadelphia, Prevention Point, the City of Philadelphia: Opioid Epidemic (2020)
- Judge Accountability Table: Judicial patterns in Philadelphia courts (2021)
Research
Graduate Research Assistant
Neurocognition Lab
Temple University
2016 - 2013
- Introduced and applied machine learning techniques (e.g. support vector machines, multivoxel pattern analysis, graph theory, network analysis) and high performance computing tools
- Assessed new data sources for value creation, attracting new research opportunities through a large, multi-site research network
- Evaluated and communicated technical advantages and tradeoffs between statistical models
- Solved difficult, non-routine analysis problems using large, complex data sets
Graduate Clinical Research Assistant
Mechanisms of Affect Dysregulation Lab
Temple University
2013 - 2011
- Supported and executed a wide range of clinical psychology studies including survey research, clinical treatment trials, neuroimaging studies, and secondary data research
- Designed and conducted a neuroimaging research study assessing affective risk factors in clinical populations
- Collaborated with the research coordinator, graduate and undergraduate students, as well as researchers from other sites to deliver high-quality peer-reviewed publications and academic conference presentations
Lead Clinical Research Coordinator
Adult Eating and Weight Disorders Clinic
The University of Chicago
2011 - 2009
- Planned and conducted statistical analyses of cross-sectional, time series, epidemiological, health outcomes and clinical data
- Optimized clinical participant recruitment and retention through data analytics
- Coordinated recruitment, screening, intake, assessment, treatment and follow-up stages several research projects, including a large NIMH-funded clinical trial and pilot studies using psychophysiological data (fMRI, RSA)
- Contributed to manuscript preparation for peer-reviewed publications and gave conference presentations
I have extensive experience with academic research, including clinical trials and studies using neuroimaging and psychophysiological data.
Teaching
Graduate Teaching Assistant and Lab Instructor
Statistics
Temple University
2014
- Taught weekly introductory statistics lab sections (75 undergraduate students) with positive student feedback
- Provided one-on-one tutoring and exam preparation on an as-needed basis
- Administered and corrected exams and liaised between students and the course instructor
Continuing Education
Health Insurance
AHIP
Online
present - 2021
- Professional, Health Insurance Advanced Studies (in progress)
Data Science
Coursera
Online
2021
- Microsoft Azure Machine Learning Studio: Predictive Modeling, Machine Learning Pipelines, Deep Learning Inference
- Causal Inference: Inferring Causal Effects from Observational Data
Volunteer Work
Selected Publications
The interactive effects of peers and alcohol on functional brain connectivity in young adults
NeuroImage
N/A
2019
At risk of being risky: The relationship between “brain age” under emotional states and risk preference
Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience
N/A
2017
Amygdala hyperactivation to angry faces in intermittent explosive disorder
Journal of Psychiatric Research
N/A
2016
Loneliness mediates the relationship between emotion dysregulation and bulimia nervosa/binge eating disorder psychopathology in a clinical sample
Eating and Weight Disorders
N/A
2013
Coping With Obesity Stigma Affects Depressed Mood in African-American and White Candidates for Bariatric Surgery
Obesity
N/A
2012
Correlates of Suicidal Ideation and/or Behavior in Bariatric-Surgery-Seeking Individuals With Severe Obesity
Crisis
N/A
2012
Factors Associated with Suicide Ideation in Severely Obese Bariatric Surgery-Seeking Individuals
Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior
N/A
2012